Stand Loudspeaker Reviews

Sonus Faber Guarneri Tradition loudspeaker Specifications

Sidebar 1: Specifications

Description: Two-way, reflex-loaded, stand-mounted loudspeaker. Drive-units: 1.1" (28mm) damped-apex silk-dome tweeter, 5.9" (150mm) sandwich-cone mid/bass driver. Crossover frequency: 2.5kHz. Frequency range: 40Hz–35kHz. Sensitivity: 87dB/2.83V/m. Nominal impedance: 4 ohms. Recommended amplification: 30–250Wpc. Long-term maximum input voltage (IEC 268-5): 20V RMS.
Dimensions: 14.85" (377mm) H by 9.4" W (239mm) W by 14.75" (375mm) D. Weight: 35.2 lbs (16kg). Dedicated stand: 29.85" (758mm) H by 12.25" (300mm) W by 15.35" (390mm) D. Weight: 35.2 lbs (16kg).
Finishes: Wengè (wengè wood veneer with maple inlays, brushed aluminum in titanium finish, brown leather); Red (stained walnut veneer with black inlays, brushed black aluminum, black leather).
Serial number of units reviewed: 52 (both).
Price: $15,900/pair, including dedicated carbon-fiber stands. Approximate number of dealers: 20.
Manufacturer: Sonus Faber, Via A. Meucci, 10 36057 Arcugnano (VI), Italy. Web: www.sonusfaber.com/en-us/. US distributor: Sumiko, 2431 Fifth Street, Berkeley, CA 94710. Tel: (510) 843-4500. Fax: (510) 843-7120. Web: www.sumikoaudio.net.

COMPANY INFO
Sonus Faber
US distributor: Sumiko
2431 Fifth Street
Berkeley, CA 94710
(510) 843-4500
www.sumikoaudio.net
ARTICLE CONTENTS

COMMENTS
Ortofan's picture
Submitted by Ortofan on March 1, 2018 - 1:06pm

... KEF Reference 5 seems well worth it.
https://www.stereophile.com/content/kef-reference-5-loudspeaker
Or, you could go with the Reference 1 at half the price.

johnnythunder's picture
Submitted by johnnythunder on March 5, 2018 - 9:44pm

The KEF house sound is not as warm as SF's. At least from what I remember from an audition of LS50s. But much much pricier...

spacehound's picture
Submitted by spacehound on March 2, 2018 - 6:47am

And I would venture to suggest they got the ideas for the metal/leather/two contrasting woods from the inside of a mid-range Mercedes :-)

Jason P Jackson's picture
Submitted by Jason P Jackson on July 29, 2019 - 3:00pm

This audio jewelry that measures like Q-Acoustics (in every area!) has moved beyond cliche years ago. This goes for the big names too >>---> MTM's with passive subs underneath with price tags that do nothing but serve to make the buyers look uninformed. And a publication that looks as if it speaks for science yet only speaks for those that think spending more equals getting something that is actually better.

The reality is, the majority of "high-end audio" has been made obsolete (performance wise) years ago. To substantiate what I am saying, take for example the speakers that Michael Fremer uses now. They are nothing more than MTM's (Midwoofer, Tweeter, Midwoofer) with large, passive subs underneath. Compare these measurement wise to a pair of Q-Acoustics 3050's at ~$1000 pair and high-pass them to a 2 pairs of SVS subs at $4k a pair total price ~$5000. Regarding bandwidth, frequency response, distortion and ultimate loudness the Q-Acoustics/SVS system will equal if not surpass the performance of the aforementioned system. As a result, I see no reason why blind listening involving a lay audience would only confirm it.
And if that fails, lets kick it up a notch. Replace the Q-Acoustics with a pair of Troels Gravesen designed, and actively high passed, SB acoustics Satori MTM's for the same total price (the drivers where designed by the same Engineering Team that designed the Scanspeak drivers that Wilson uses for Christ sakes).

Then play fare.

"To the simple, everything appears simple"

P.S. I'm aware of the many factors involved regarding sound quality and loudspeaker design and their SQ is not limited to distortion and frequency response. Indeed, diffraction, acoustic phase, spectral decay and box panel resonance constitute what are important roles in the end game and the above designs listed perform as good any in these areas.

volvic's picture
Submitted by volvic on March 2, 2018 - 7:13am

There are great monitors around for half that can compete with these beauties, The Focal Diablo comes to mind, gorgeous construction and great sounding speakers. Ortofan above is right, same money buys you full sized speakers that will go deeper. Still love monitors and these are beauts to consider if I had the coin.

Indydan's picture
Submitted by Indydan on March 2, 2018 - 10:25am

I believe you mean the Focal Sopra 1. The Sopra 1 is about half the price of the SF Guarneri. The Diablo Utopia is in between both the Sopra and SFG in price.

volvic's picture
Submitted by volvic on March 2, 2018 - 11:45am

But was thinking in terms British Pounds hence my mistaken comment on half price. You are correct the Diablo Utopia's are closer in USD to the Sonus Faber's. A better comparison would have been Totem's Mani-2 which for the price are stellar speakers and I think might even be less than half. I can even mention the DeVore monitors that I have heard and liked, don't know their name or price.

jtshaw's picture
Submitted by jtshaw on March 2, 2018 - 10:58am

My first experience of Sonus Faber involved a mesmerizing audition of the Electa Amator II back in 1990/1991. Have always respected Sonus Faber since.

I wonder though, how much better can the Guaneri Tradition be at double the price of my Pulsars? The Pulsars are six years old, and they remain utterly captivating. To my eyes they also look just as good, and I never feel deprived listening to them.

To each according to her taste, I suppose. Interesting that at "$15,900/pair, including stands," the Guarneri Tradition is priced similarly to the Wilson Audio Sabrina. I've heard the Sabrina and it is a truly remarkable loudspeaker, also beautifully made and would occupy much the same floor space as the Guaneri.

My best wishes and sympathies to those trying to sort through such comparisons and tradeoffs. I'm so grateful that the Pulsars helped me to exit the upgrade merry-go-round.

volvic's picture
Submitted by volvic on March 2, 2018 - 12:39pm

Love the Joseph Audio monitors as well, heard them many times and always impressed. Jeff Joseph is a great guy too.

jtnt's picture
Submitted by jtnt on March 7, 2018 - 6:57am

... Is available, just not on Tidal (presumably due to licensing issues), since they cover the entire "Waiting For Columbus" album as the second set of a three-set show... Here's a link for those interested, and I urge you to listen... I'm a fan of the original, but I was at this show, and it was a special performance. http://www.livephish.com/browse/music/0,575/Phish-mp3-flac-download-10-31-2010-Boardwalk-Hall-Atlantic-City-NJ

Geoff1954's picture
Submitted by Geoff1954 on March 15, 2018 - 6:43pm

I'm surprised John did not mention another Stereophile review of a Sonus Faber stand-mounted, two-way speaker, the Concerto:

http://www.technologyfactory.com/reviews/SonusFaber/concerto_stereophile.pdf

The Concerto was definitely more affordable and put a Sonus Faber speaker in the range of those of us whose budgets have more real world limits. Thanks to that review --and others, I recall another rave in Jazz Times -- I purchased those speakers and their stands. They remain my primary speakers today and I have never regretted the purchase.

SNI's picture
Submitted by SNI on March 25, 2018 - 3:52am

As mentioned by JA, I find the delayed energy @ 2KHz, as revealed by the waterfall plot, as a not very nice feature.
A speaker at this price point should not have design errors like this.

Archguy's picture
Submitted by Archguy on January 11, 2019 - 1:25am

Seductive by all accounts, but I'd note in passing that here is yet another pair of speakers being tested a full six feet out into the room for best SQ. Designers are living in a different world from most of us.

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